Illustration from the council’s Wray Crescent Park building project, community leaflet – responses are called for by July 16

• THE community building on Wray Crescent open space has been closed for safety reasons since 2017 and I’m delighted it’s now due to be rebuilt. However the lack of consultation with the local community is shameful.

We were invited to “information sessions” where proposed architectural designs were presented. We were given a leaflet which says, “this building project has to meet the requirements and specifications of the ECB in their cricket pavilion guidance”.

Where were the steps before that, resident surveys, consultation, public meetings? And why were the information sessions timed to take place while our local councillors are in purdah and therefore not permitted to speak?

Are council officers trying to push plans through while residents have no elected representatives to speak up for them?

The proposed building heavily favours cricket above all other sports and activities which currently take place on this open space, (They should have asked us: Howzat? June 18).

It is being referred to as a cricket pavilion, not a community building, and the plans include an office designated for sole use of Middlesex County Cricket.

There has been no reassurance that the building will be open for other sports to use the changing rooms or even for the public to use the toilets and there are no plans for a café.

I remember the days of summer festivals and even a wedding at Wray Crescent open space. It is not just a cricket pitch.

Please allow democratic consultation with local residents so that the final building reflects the many uses of this attractive green space.

SUE MARRIS
Wray Crescent, N4